UC Portman Center Awarded $772K Grant for Civil Discourse Efforts

The funding will expand the center's speaker series and launch a new civility training program.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The Portman Center for Policy Solutions at the University of Cincinnati has been awarded a nearly $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to improve civil discourse. The center will use the funding to expand its speaker and workshop series and launch a new civility training and peer-mentorship program within UC's courses on American civics.

Why it matters

The grant positions UC's Portman Center as a national leader in training the next generation of civil, solution-oriented leaders. Learning how to collaborate across differences and turn conversation into progress is essential for preparing future public servants and leaders.

The details

The Portman Center was one of 17 higher-education and nonprofit institutions around the country awarded funding for their civil discourse programming through the Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education Special Projects Program. The center will use the $772,000 grant to build on its existing partnership with Braver Angels, a national non-profit dedicated to bringing people of different political backgrounds together.

  • The Portman Center was awarded the grant at the end of 2025.
  • The center expects to launch its grant-based programming, in partnership with Braver Angels, later this year.

The players

Portman Center for Policy Solutions

A center at the University of Cincinnati established in 2023 by former U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio with the objectives of fostering bipartisan cooperation, civility and the development of future public servants from across the political spectrum.

Andrew Lewis

The executive director of UC's Portman Center for Policy Solutions.

John Weidner

The interim provost at the University of Cincinnati.

Braver Angels

A national non-profit organization dedicated to bringing people of different political backgrounds together in the interest of creating mutual respect and civility.

Mike DeWine

The Republican governor of Ohio.

Andy Beshear

The Democratic governor of Kentucky.

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What they’re saying

“We are honored to be among the select group of awardees to expand civil discourse efforts in higher education. As citizens, we must find a better, more productive way to disagree, and this grant positions the University of Cincinnati to be a national leader in training the next generation of civil, solution-oriented leaders.”

— Andrew Lewis, Executive Director, Portman Center for Policy Solutions (Mirage News)

“Learning how to collaborate, work across differences and turn conversation into progress is essential to preparing the next generation of public servants and leaders. This grant will help us do just that.”

— John Weidner, Interim Provost, University of Cincinnati (Mirage News)

What’s next

The Portman Center expects to launch its grant-based programming, in partnership with Braver Angels, later this year.

The takeaway

This grant positions UC's Portman Center as a national leader in training the next generation of civil, solution-oriented leaders by expanding its efforts to foster bipartisan cooperation, civility, and the development of future public servants from across the political spectrum.